A mother has revealed that her seven-year-old son’s religion teacher told her Santa Claus was not real.
On the British parenting platform Mumsnet, the mother claimed that her son came home from school and revealed that his teacher told him the “truth about Santa.”
He stated that his son is “not someone who exaggerates” and questioned whether it was “reasonable” to tell the truth to a seven-year-old child.
Many came to the comments with mixed opinions, as some stated that teachers cannot lie to students if asked.
the publication read: ‘Is it reasonable for a physical education teacher to tell seven-year-olds that Santa Claus doesn’t exist?
‘My dear seven-year-old son just told me that his PE teacher told the class that Santa Claus is ‘not real’ today.
He is not someone who exaggerates too much. I asked him if any of the kids had provoked him by asking and he said no, she just said it.
‘If you think it’s unreasonable, would you say something to the school? YABU – Teachers are right to say that FC is not real at the age of 7.
A woman revealed on Mumsnet that her seven-year-old son’s religion teacher told her Santa Claus wasn’t real (file image)
Some people suggested that teachers can’t lie to children if they ask difficult questions.
One person wrote: ‘Yeah you’re right, I guess a couple of kids asked and the teacher could hardly lie. Santa Claus is not real!
‘Children can be told about Saint Nicholas and other characters from which the myth originated and it is fun to pretend, but there comes a point when pretending ends.
‘I certainly never believed in the myth of Santa Claus when I was seven, I doubt many did. I’m surprised this bothers parents much more than it bothers their children.’
Another added: “Sorry but I think 7 is an age where they should probably learn that CF isn’t real.”
“There have been quite a few discussions here where people have mentioned that they found out at older ages and were quite traumatized by being lied to for so long.
“And letting everyone know it now, together, as a group – at an age when none of the children will be teased by their peers if their reaction in class makes clear what they believed until that moment – is one way to ensure Some kids don’t make fun of other kids at 10 or 11 when they find out they still believe in FC.
On the British parenting platform Mumsnet, the mother claimed that her son came home from school and revealed that his teacher told him the truth about Santa.
Some people suggested that teachers can’t lie to children if they ask difficult questions.
‘I think some of the parents here (especially nowadays? At my school in the 80s, I’m pretty sure everyone knew by age 7 or 8 anyway) are letting this go on too long. “I don’t think it encourages critical thinking and creates the risk of being mocked and humiliated at some point.”
Someone else added: “Teachers have probably witnessed cases of children being humiliated for being the ones to believe in Santa at age 10, and may feel they have a responsibility to prevent it.”
“I think some parents let this go on longer than is responsible and they do it for themselves, not the kids.”
A fourth said: ‘Complain about what? she said something sincere when she was probably prompted by the topic they were discussing.
‘What did you expect her to say? Do you want your children to respect their teachers and trust them?
‘So in a few years, when your DS knows the truth, he will remember that his teacher lied about Santa Claus.
‘I may not trust teachers in the future. Second World War? Yeah, it sure happened like you said, you also said Santa Claus was real. Don’t complain about that teacher. She is doing her job.
Another added: “Well he’s not real.” At 7 years old I didn’t believe in FC. Just the logistics of it. I hope you say the same about any God.
Someone else said: ‘Numerous psychological studies have shown that Santa lying is detrimental to children’s well-being.
‘That it’s not ‘magical’ to feel satisfied and smug when they fully believe and trust you. Plus, all the news is talking about how archaeologists have found Santa’s tomb and, like the Wizard of Oz, the curtain has been drawn.
‘Your PE teacher did you a favor, any discomfort you feel is because you have to deal with the consequences of lying to your child sooner rather than later. The sooner is always better for the child’s mental well-being.’
Many came to the comments with mixed opinions, as some stated that teachers cannot lie to students if they ask them.
However, others said it was cruel for a teacher to ruin the magic of Santa Claus without parental permission.
One person said: ‘That’s horrible. I would be furious if anyone else, much less a teacher, told my 7-year-old son that Santa Claus doesn’t exist. I definitely complain.’
Another said: “That’s very cruel but I would tell her DS that Santa must never have visited her.”
“However, I would complain because I would suspect that the RE teacher must be a very conservative religious type who is against FC, and should not impose her views on others.”
Someone else wrote: ‘That’s horrible! It’s a common belief among that age group in this country, so why anyone would tell them that it’s categorically not true, I really can’t understand.
‘Even worse for an RE teacher, whose job is to share information about common beliefs and teach tolerance and understanding of how different people can believe different things.’
“Telling a child what they believe is not true at that age is simply unnecessary; some of them believe in the Tooth Fairy, fairies in general, unicorns, Spider-Man, whatever!
‘You can simply teach them facts about the world without destroying what little magic they experience related to these things, using neutral words like ‘well, what do you believe?’ If asked, until the child is ready to ask questions himself.’
It comes after a vicar apologized after primary school children cried when he gave a sermon explaining that Father Christmas was not real.
Parents have accused Reverend Dr Paul Chamberlain of “ruining” Christmas after he addressed year 6 pupils at Lee-on-the-Solent High School in Hampshire.
The minister, who is vicar of nearby Santa Fe Church, allegedly told the children: “You’re all in sixth form, now let’s face it, Santa isn’t real,” during a talk about the Nativity.
Parents have accused Reverend Dr Paul Chamberlain of “ruining” Christmas with his comments about Santa Claus. Reverend Chamberlain is pictured in 2018, with the city’s war memorial.
Dr. Chamberlain also reportedly told the children that their parents were the ones who ate the cookies they had left for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
The comments are said to have left children crying and school teachers left scrambling to try and recapture the magic.
One of the parents has also filed a complaint against Dr. Chamberlain.
Now teachers have started making badges for pupils that say ‘Lee-on-the-Solent cree’, to try and inspire some festive magic.
They also wrote to parents in an email explaining how they had told the children that “all the stories and legends about Christmas” were legitimate.
One parent said: “I don’t know how it can be undone, but I think it’s absolutely disgusting.”
The mum said she was now trying to “push as much magic as possible” over the festive period.
The remarks were made in a talk to pupils at Lee-on-the-Solent secondary school in Hampshire.
Another parent said that “many children started crying in class” and that this was “wrong” since “many parents had to confess to their children.”
The reverend has since written to pupils to apologize and is said to have accepted his comments were “an error of judgement”.
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Portsmouth told MailOnline: “We understand that the vicar of St Faith’s, Lee-on-the-Solent, the Reverend Paul Chamberlain, was delivering a PE lesson to 10 and 11-year-olds in Lee -on. -Solent High School.
‘After talking about the Nativity story from the Bible, he made some comments about the existence of Santa Claus.
‘Paul has accepted that this was an error of judgment and that he should not have done it.
‘He apologized unreservedly to the school, to parents and to children, and the headteacher immediately wrote to all parents to explain.
“The school and diocese have worked together to address this issue, and the headteacher has written to parents for a second time, sending them Paul’s apologies.”